Projector, field, and targets

ABSTRACT

A game combining strategy and skill has a game playing surface with two ends, the surface being marked off from each end in an assembly zone, numbered advance zones, and an option zone. Movable playing pieces are two sets of target symbols, usually representing soldiers, and shielding blocks. Each player has a shooting means operated from his end of the game surface with which he may knock down shielding blocks or soldiers of the other player. The shooting means is preferrably a spring operated cannon having a barrel, an axial rod in the barrel, an impulse plunger disposed about the rod, a compression spring urging the plunger towards the muzzle of the barrel, means locking and releasing the plunger in a rear position, and a projectile containing an axial bore disposed about the rod and ejected on release of the plunger. Emplacements at each end of the game surface or board have end walls through which the cannon project. Side nets extending between the emplacements contain projectiles on the playing surface.

United States Patent [191 Torgow [451 May 21, 1974 PROJECTOR, FIELD, AND TARGETS [76] lnventor: Abraham M. Torgow, 185 E. 206th St., Bronx, NY. 10458 [22] Filed: Apr. 6, 1972 211 App]. No.: 241,696

[52] US. Cl. 273/101, 124/26 [51] Int. Cl A63b 71/02 [58] Field of Search... 273/95 R, l0l, 127 R, 85 R;

3,375,008 3/1968 Atkinson...

3,495,828 2/1970 Kymla 2,607,591 8/1952 Tilley 2,563,969 8/195] Skinner.....

2,735,221 2/1956 Fields l24/37 Primary Examiner-Richard C. Pinkham Assistant Examiner-Marvin Siskind Attorney, Agent, or Firm-William Anthony Drucker [57 ABSTRACT A game combining strategy and skill has a game playing surface with two ends, the surface being marked off from each end in an assembly zone, numbered advance zones, and an option zone. Movable playing pieces are two sets of target symbols, usually representing soldiers, and shielding blocks. Each player has a shooting means operated from his end of the game surface with which he may knock down shielding blocks or soldiers of the other player. The shooting means is preferrably a spring operated cannon having a barrel, an axial rod in the barrel, an impulse plunger disposed about the rod, a compression spring urging the plunger towards the muzzle of the barrel, means locking and releasing the plunger in a rear position, and a projectile containing an axial bore disposed about the rod and ejected on release of the plunger. Emplacements at each end of the game surface or board have end walls through which the cannon project. Side nets extending between the emplacements contain projectiles on the playing surface.

1 Claim, 6 Drawing Figures PROJECTOR, FIELD, AND TARGETS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION There is a need for a game which combines intellectual decision making and physical skill. This invention provides game apparatus for such a game.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a projectile for use in the cannon of FIG. 3; and

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a rolled side net.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT As, shown in FIG. 1, an elongated game board 10 has endmost lateral assembly zones 11, advance zones 12 and 13 between the assembly zones 11, and central adjacent option zones 14. The board 10 may fold into three ormore sections 9 as desired.

Disposed at the ends of board 10 are two emplacements 15 and 15. Each emplacement has a base 16, an

end wall 17 containing an opening 18, and triangular side walls 19 and 19'. The sloping tops of side walls 19 contain longitudinal recesses 20 and the sloping tops of side walls 19' have ridges 21 formed on them. As shown in FIG. 2,emplacements 15 and 15 may be placed one upon the other to form a container for game apparatus.

Nobs 22 on side walls 19 and 19' have lengths of elastic 23 looped over them to secure the unrolled nets 24 on each side of game board 10. FIG. 6 shows a net 24 rolled for storage.

Small soldiers 25 and shielding blocks 26 are placed on boardl0 for play. The pieces 25 may assume different forms if desired and they may have hidden values marked on their bases that are revealed only when a piece is knocked over. The pieces 25 should project above the shielding blocks 26 and each shielding block 26 should shield only a given number of pieces 25.

Toy cannon 27 are mounted or placed on bases 16 pointing through the openings 18. As may be seen in FIGS. 3 and 4, each cannon 27 has a carriage 28 with a vertically pivoting member 29 journalled therein. The barrel 30 is horizontally joumalled to member 29 so that it can be aimed. Barrel 30 contains a bore 31 with a central rod 32 projecting forward therein. A compression spring 33 urges impulse plunger 34 forward. A cocking lever 35 projects laterally from plunger 34 to project through a longitudinal slot 36 having a rearwardly disposed latch bend 37. The cannon 27 is cocked by pulling lever 35 rearwardly and seating it in bend 37. A projectile 38 containing an axial bore 39 is seated on rod 32 and pushed back against plunger 34. A rod (not shown) containing a central bore may be used for this purpose when loading a cannon 27. Can non 27 is fired by urging lever 35 upward from bend 37. The projectiles 38 are made of cork or other light material which cannot harm a player. The particular construction of cannon 27 prevents the firing of heavy and dangerous objects by children. The sliding of projectiles 38 on rod 32 gives cannon 27 a great accuracy for a spring gun.

The game apparatus of my invention is used in play as follows. The soldiers 25 and shielding blocks 26 are set up as shown, although the exact number of each may be varied. Each player in turn has an option in which he can fire a projectile 38, move a soldier 25 forward one zone 12, 13 or 14, or move a block 26 forward to the next zone 12, 13 or 14. When a soldier 25 is in a players option zone 14, that player receives an extra option each turn. When a players soldier 25 is in the other players option zone 14, the player receives two extra options each turn. If one player has more soldiers 25 in a given option zone than the other player and the player with the majority of pieces in the option zone survives a cannon firing by the other player, the player with the majority of pieces captures all the opponents pieces in the zone. Captured soldiers 25 are removed from the board as are soldiers 25 hit and knocked over by cannon fire. Captured shielding blocks 26 are used by the capturing player. The destruction or capture of all the other players soldiers 25 is the object of the game.

The description of the playing of the game has been brief and .is merely exemplary. Many rule modifications are possible which can handicap better players, etc. In addition, the game apparatus can be varied. For example, one cannon 27 can be provided and passed back and forth by players as it is used by each. A large scale version of the game can be played using an air rifle, a cork gun, or the like on a court rather than a game board. The zones would then be laid out by markers on such a court. 4

While this invention has been shown and described in the best forms known, it will nevertheless be understood that this is purely exemplary and that modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is: V

1. In a game apparatus system comprising:

a. a game board having transverse lines and having two ends and end most outer assembly zones, a plurality of inner advance zones between said assembly zones, and central adjacent option zones, said zones being defined by said transverse lines,

b. two sets of elongated movable shielding blocks that are triangular in section and have a narrower side, said blocks being disposed on their narrower sides, said blocks being moved from said assembly zones to others of said zones,

0. two sets of movable pieces, each piece being a figure representing a military figure and standing higher than said shielding blocks, each of said shielding blocks extending in front of at least two adjacent pieces of each set of pieces disposed therebehind, said pieces being independently moveable from one of said zones to another,

d. hand operated toy cannon to be used at each end of said game board, each of said toy cannon having a barrel containing a bore, a longitudinal slot, and a locking bend at the rearward end of said slot, a rod projecting forward within said bore, a plunger containing a central bore disposed about said rod, a compression spring behind said plunger disposed f. emplacements each having a front wall disposed at the ends of said game board each having an opening in a front wall thereof for shooting substantially horizontally therethrough by one of said toy cannon, and

g. side walls of said emplacements disposed adjacent to the sides of said game board and nets extending between said side walls of said emplacements, said nets and said front walls of said emplacements confining projectiles to said game board. 

1. In a game apparatus system comprising: a. a game board having transverse lines and having two ends and end most outer assembly zones, a plurality of inner advance zones between said assembly zones, and central adjacent option zones, said zones being defined by said transverse lines, b. two sets of elongated movable shielding blocks that are triangular in section and have a narrower side, said blocks being disposed on their narrower sides, said blocks being moved from said assembly zones to others of said zones, c. two sets of movable pieces, each piece being a figure representing a military figure and standing higher than said shielding blocks, each of said shielding blocks extending in front of at least two adjacent pieces of each set of pieces disposed therebehind, said pieces being independently moveable from one of said zones to another, d. hand operated toy cannon to be used at each end of said game board, each of said toy cannon having a barrel containing a bore, a longitudinal slot, and a locking bend at the rearward end of said slot, a rod projecting forward within said bore, a plunger containing a central bore disposed about said rod, a compression spring behind said plunger dIsposed about said rod, and a cocking lever projecting laterally from said plunger through said slot, said cocking lever being movable rearwardly entering said locking bend, said cocking lever being urged from said locking bend to fire said cannon, e. projectiles for said toy cannon capable of knocking over said pieces and with more difficulty said blocks, said projectiles containing an axial through bore to be transfixed by said rod on being inserted in the bore of a cannon in front of a plunger for firing from said cannon, f. emplacements each having a front wall disposed at the ends of said game board each having an opening in a front wall thereof for shooting substantially horizontally therethrough by one of said toy cannon, and g. side walls of said emplacements disposed adjacent to the sides of said game board and nets extending between said side walls of said emplacements, said nets and said front walls of said emplacements confining projectiles to said game board. 